Most Beautiful Yacht

This photo essay discusses Anthem, a 70-foot ketch built in 1998 by Roger MacGregor. Anthem combines luxury and performance with hand-laid fiberglass construction, a 70-foot mainmast, and speeds of up to 25 knots. It was named one of the seven most beautiful boats ever built alongside vessels like J-Class yachts. A sister ship to Anthem was built in the last decade, continuing its legacy as a masterpiece of yacht design. Photos of the sister ship are provided.

Als explored is the development of Ultra Light Displacement Boats (ULDBs) and their competition with MacGregor Yachts, highlighting key differences in design, construction, and performance. ULDBs, pioneered by designers like Bill Lee, George Olson, and Ron Moore in Santa Cruz, focused on lightweight construction (vacuum-bagged fiberglass with balsa cores) and exceptional downwind speed. Iconic ULDBs like Merlin and the Olson 30 dominated offshore racing with innovative designs.

Ruby Princess, a Fincantieri Super Yacht

A super yacht of Italian design, And a vessel grand, where futures align. Her decks are streets, her lounges are squares, A metropolis afloat, with worldly fares.

Beneath the fog, she slips away, A city for tomorrow, born today. Not bound by land, nor fixed in place, Ruby Princess glides with effortless grace. Restaurants and theaters, pools and spas, A microcosm of life, both near and far.

San Francisco fades, but urban life thrives, On this ship where innovation drives. No billionaire’s toy, this Princess of the sea, But a glimpse of what our cities could be. Efficient, diverse, a community afloat, Ruby Princess, more than just a boat.

From port to port, she carries her nation, A blueprint for future civilization. A Fincantieri super yacht so rare, And a city of the future, beyond compare.

Santa Barbara, California USA

The story of Santa Barbara, known as the American Riviera, begins with the iconic Old Mission Santa Barbara. Founded in 1786 by Spanish Franciscans, this “Queen of the Missions” stands as a testament to the area’s rich cultural heritage. Its twin bell towers and stunning architecture have become synonymous with the city’s character.

The city’s tumultuous history includes Zorro, the 1969 oil spill, the California Oil Spill and the burning of a Bank of America branch in Isla Vista in 1970, a reflection of the era’s social unrest and anti-establishment sentiments.

Panama Canal and Ballard Locks

From Panama’s tropics to Seattle’s bay, Two locks stand proud, in their own unique way. One spans oceans, a global trade key, The other links lakes to the Pacific’s spree.

Panama’s grandeur, a feat of its time, Gatun and Miraflores, engineering sublime. A pathway for giants, through jungle and heat, Connecting two worlds where oceans meet.

Ballard’s charm lies in a smaller scale, Freshwater to salt, boats set their sail. Fish ladders climb as salmon persist, Nature and man in a delicate tryst.

Both locks rely on gravity’s might, Raising and lowering vessels in flight. Water flows forth from reservoirs vast, A testament to progress that continues to last.

Vancouver Island Circumnavigation

We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started Through the unknown, unremembered gate When the last of earth left to discover Is that which was the beginning; Not known, because not looked for But heard, half-heard, in the stillness Between two waves of the sea. Seattle stillness between two waves of exploration one on the Alaska Inside Passage and one on the Wild Side of Vancouver Canada.

Seville, Spain

From Roman roots to Moorish spires, Seville’s skyline tells tales of empires. Gothic arches reach for the sky, While Mudéjar patterns catch the eye.

Visigoths ruled, then Moors held sway, Their minarets still stand today. Reconquista brought Christian might, Baroque splendor, a dazzling sight.

Renaissance forms with classical grace, In plazas and palaces find their place. Modern structures dare to soar, Las Setas, a sight to explore.

Through centuries, faiths intertwined, In flamenco’s soul, their echoes we find. Gypsy passion, Jewish lament, Moorish rhythms, divinely blent.

Christian fervor, Andalusian heart, In dance and song, cultures impart. From persecution rose expression, Flamenco, born of this fusion.

In Triana’s streets, the art took flight, A testament to Seville’s cultural might. Architecture and music entwined, In Seville’s spirit, forever enshrined.

Recreational Vessels

Across the Waves, a Guzzwell Dream
In Trekka’s wake, adventurers sail, Small boats with big hearts, ready to prevail. Guzzwell’s spirit guides them through the spray, Inspiring voyages day by day.

From wooden yawl to racing multihull, Endangered Species, fast and powerful. Water ballast shifts for comfort’s sake, As sailors brave each ocean, sea, and lake.

Topside they stand, surveying endless blue, Horizons beckon with adventures new. In tiny cabins or on open decks, They find the freedom Guzzwell’s tale reflects.

So hoist your sails and chart your course with pride, Let Guzzwell’s legacy be your guide.
For in each small boat beats a mighty heart, Ready for the journey, eager to depart.

Cortez Island Canada

Go to Desolation Sound from Cortes Bay. The Island and bay were named after Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico. The island has a rich history, including First Nations settlements, logging, and fishing industries. Today, the island is known for its artistic community, organic farming, and ecotourism.